Furniture-caster.



n. o. BIDDLE.

- FURNITURE CASTER. APPLlCATlQN, ElLED WAY 24| 1916.

Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

www@ l l N.S.l)

alter ne 14 DAVID 0. BIDDLEyOF BAERS SUMMIT, PENNSYLVANI.

FURNITURE-CASTEE.

1,21&,416.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented dan. 3d, 191'?.

Application filed May 24, 1916. Serial No. 99,634.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, DAVID O. BIDDLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bakers Summit, in the county of Bedford, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Furniture-Caster; and I do hereby and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled vin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in furniture casters, and has for its object to provide a device of this character which embodies novel features of construction whereby any article of furniture to which it may be applied can be readily rolled over the door in any direction without binding or danger of breaking.

Further objects of the invention. are to provide a furniture caster which is strong and durable in its construction, which is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture,

which will admit of the article of furniture being moved in any direction, and which can be easily placed in position or removed therefrom.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claim.

For a full understandingl of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a furniture caster constructed in accordance with the invention, showing the manner of applying the same to a leg of an article of furniture. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof. Fig.v 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, with the cover plate and the main ball removed. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the cover plate.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings. the reference numeral 1 designates a block which is shown as rectangular in shape, although it mav be of any suitable conguration. |This block declare the following to be a full, clear,

1 is formed with a semispherical recess 2 which opens through the lower face thereof, screw receiving openings 3 being provided in the corners of the block, andthe lower ends of the said openings 3 being flared, as indicated at 3a. An annular raceway 4 is provided in the semispherical recess 2 at a. point toward the top thereof, said raceway receiving a series of anti-friction balls 5 which engage the top of the main ball 6. The mouth of the semispherical recess 2 is rabbeted to provide a second annular raceway 7 within which a series of anti-friction balls 8 are mounted, said balls 8 engaging the sides of the main ball 6. A cover plate 9 is removably applied to the lower face of the block l, said cover plate being provided ,with an inwardly beveled circular opening 10 through which the main ball 6 projects downwardly, although the edges of the opening engage the ball to retain it in position within the semispherical recess 2 and prevent displacement thereof. This cover plate also tits over the lower raceway p7, providlng the lower wall thereof, and retaining the anti-friction ball 8 in position. j

The corners of the cover or retaining plate 9 are formed with openings 11 corresponding to the screw receiving openings 3 of the block 1. said openings being surrounded by upwardly proiecting positioning bosses 12 which fit within the flared lower ends 3 of the screw receiving openings 3 to hold the cover plate securely in proper position at all times. Fastening screws 13 extend through the openings 11 of the retaining or cover plate 9 and the openings 3 of the block 1, said screws serving both as a means for securing the retaining or cover plate 9 to the block, and also as a means for securing the block to an article of furniture.

In assembling the parts, the block 1 is inverted and held with the semispherical recess 2 facing upwardly while placing the anti-friction balls 5 in the annular raceway 4. The main ball 6 is next dropped in position within the semispherical recess 2 and the anti-friction balls 8 placed within the lower raceway 7 The retaining or cover plate 9 may no-w be applied to the block 1, the positioning bosses 12 fitting within the flared ends 3 of the screw receiving openings 3 to assist in holding the retaining plate in proper position preparatory to inserting the screws 13 through the openings and securing the caster to an article of furniture.

yface of the block and holding Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and-desire to secure by Letters ratent, is

The herein described furniture caster in cluding a block having a semispherical recess in the lower face thereof, an annular race'- Way being provided at a point slightly spaced from the top of the recess, and the mouth of thek semispherical recess being rabbeted to provide a second annular raceway, an annular series of anti-friction balls arranged within each of the annular raceways, al supporting ball fitted loosely within the recess and engaging the anti-friction balls, a retaining plate applied to the lower the supporting ball in position, said retalning plate also roviding the lower wall of the second annuar raceway to hold the anti-friction balls in position therein, the' retaining plate and block being formed with corresponding openings a'ndthe lower ends of the openings in the block being flared while the openings in the plate are surrounded by positioning bosses Which'engage the flared mouths of the lopenings in the block, and fastening members extending through said corresponding openings for holding the .retaining plate in proper position upon the block and securing the block to an article of furniture. I

'In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. v e

e DAVID O. BIDDLE. Witnesses:

CHRIST H. HINKLE, `ANDREW B. POTE. 

